Winter Magic of Hot Springs

CompanySelf

PhotographerNune Karamyan

PrizeHonorable Mention

Entry Description

Water, baths, and showers in our mundane fast-paced lives no longer carry any meaning except practical.
Japanese Onsens return us to the times when water was used for ablution and the bath had symbolic meaning. The tranquil-naked-soaking ritual in Japan’s hot springs brings us closer to nature, helps us meditate and connect to our inner selves. Bathing at night in the winter elevates the experience to a higher level.
To not be intrusive in a bather’s privacy, the photographs were taken after midnight, when almost all pools were empty